Illuminated level



. l 617,937 Feb 15 1927' G. F. BOUCHER ET Al.

ILLUMINATED LEVEL Filed March 30, 1925 ma m j YH l- Patented l 15, 1927.

UNITED STATES GEoEGE E.' BOUCHER., GEoEGE n. rEIcE,

AND FREDERICK FQQTER, F BT. LOUIS,

MISSOURI.

ILLUHINATED LEVEL.

Application Med March 30, 1925. Serial No. 19,234.

.This levels. V An object of the invention is to provide novel means for illuminating the bubble glasses of levels, and' means for .supporting the levels vertically u on metallic objects.

Another objectl of .t e invention is to provide a level embodying the structure mentioned and having a measuring scale on one side thereof. y

Other objects will appear from the following description, reference being made to the drawing in which Fig. lis a sectional View of a level coninvention relates to illuminated taining the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the measuring scale.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the magnetized supportino' elements in the level.

Fig. 4 is an end view showing the switch device controlling the lighting circuits.

Fig. 5 is a view taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 1.

L 6-6 of Fi Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view on the line The stoc or body 1 of the level is made of any approlpriate species of wood and is equipped wit and 3. The bubble glass 2 is protected by a metallic' plate 4 having a longitudinal sight slot 5 therein, and the inner side of said plate is highly polished or coated with quicksilver or the like to concentrate and reiect the rays of light from the adjacent illuminating lamp. The bubble lass 3 extends across a sight opening 6 in ille level body, the wall oi said opening being equipped with reiiecting means to concentrate and reflect the rays of light from the adjacent lamp. The body or stock l is provided with a longitudinal bore 7 through which the circuit wires to the lam extend. r1`he lamp 8 illuminates the bubb e glass 2 through a hole 8, and the lamp 9 illuminates the bubble glass-3 through a hole 10. Each of said lamps has a reflector R thereon and is supported in a novel manner permitting ad justment to proper relationsh1p with respect to the remaining structure and protecting the lamp from damage that would otherwise result from ars and blows to which the level 4might be su jected. The threaded sleeve 11 of each lam 1s screwed between the conver ing ends o a air of spring arms y12 whic `:serve as a soc et therefor, the end of said the usual bubble glasses 2` ytion therewit sleeve contacting with the end of a coiled spring 13, the opposite end ofwhich isse cured to a plug 1,4 imbedding the terminal contact member 15. The lamp plugs 14 are held within the level by removable screws 16 and the outer ends of the recesses in which the plugs are mounted are closed by discs 17 c screwe upon the members 15.

A dry cell battery 18 is removably mounted in'one end of the level 1 and has the eX- tension 19 thereof in contact with a metallicV l plate 20 from which a circuit wire 21 leadsto connection with one of the spring arms 12 of the lamp 8, and a circuit wire 22 leads to a connection with one of the spring arms 12 of the lam 9. A crcuitwire 23 for the lamp 8 lea s from the terminal connecting member 15 of said lamp to connection with a metallic plate 24 secured to the end of the level and closing the recess in which the battery 18 is mounted; andv a' similar circuit wire 25 leads from the member 15 of the lamp 9 to connection with said plate 2li. The plate 24 is out ofcontact with the metallic end 0f the battery and is formed with a resilient tongue 26. designed and adapted to be pressedinto Contact with the battery to close the circuits to both of the lamps, as will be understood by reference to Fig. 1. A slide 27 has its ends bent to enclose the edges of the plate 24 to maintain slidable connection to hold t e tongue'26 pressed against the battery 18 to maintain closed circuits to the lamps. When the slide 27 is in the pon sition shown the resilient tongue 26 moves out of contact with the the circuits to the lamps. y

y A pair of magnet-ized bodies 28 are imbedded in thelevel so that when the level is placed against any metallic object the magnets 28 will support the level without the aid of the hand of the user, thus permitting the user to ste back for clearer and better observation. he m nets 28 are removable and are `retained 1n place by removable screws 29.

The faces of the levelare provided with measuring scales, one of which is shown in Fig. 2, so that the device may be used as a measuring instrument as well.

In order to make the device complete as a measuring instrument a series of telescopin measuring units 30 are mounted in one en of the body 1 and are Jwithdrawable and may be moved to post.

battery and opens v v istance between successively tofproduce a projected or ex tended measuring scale of any desired length. There may be as many of the telescoping units 30 as needed by the person usin the instrument. One or more sides of t e units 80 is provided with a measuring scale. As shown in Fifrs. 1 2 and 3 a number of the units 30 are 'slightly projected beyond the end of -the body 1, but when out of. use the units 30 are entirel within the bod 1 and their ends even'witli the end of sai body. N

The mode of use and o eration of the invention will be clear to t ose skilled in the art, without further description. We contemplate the use of such materials in the manufacture of the device as will best serve the purposes for which the invention is intended. We do not restrict ourselves unessentiall but what we claim and desire to' urin sca e extending throughout the length* of t ebody on the same side thereof in which said second device is visible, and an extensible measuring element comprising a plurality of telescopic units normally located witliin one end of the body adjacent the scale.

2. An instrument for locating vertical.

' planes and measuring the height of and the distance between oints on said vertical planes and the horizontal distance between points'on different vertical planes, comprising aebody, a device supported ir'i and visible from each of the two op osite sides of the body for locatin vertica planes, a device visibly supporte in another side ofthe body for locating horizontal lanes, a meas urin scale extending throng out the length of t e body on the same side thereof in which said second device is visible, an extensiblc telescopic measuring element located in the body of the instrument and adjacent'thescale adapted to form a continuation thereof, a lamp positioned adje cent the first deviceand the extensible element, and a second lamp adjacent the second device and the scale.

3. An instrument for locating vertical planes and measuring the height of and the distance Cbetween points on such vertical planes and the horizontal distance between points on different Vertical planes, comprisin" a body, a device supported in and visib e from each of the two op osite sides of the body for locating verticel planes, a device'vsibl?l supported at another side of the body or locating horizontal planes, a measuring scale extending through the length of the body on the same side thereof in which said second device is visible, an extensible measurin element normally located witliin one en ofthe body of the instrument adjacent the scale comprising a plurality of telescopic units forming a continuation of the scale, illuminating means positioned within the body of the instrument adjacent each of the plane locatingrl devices, said illuminating means comprising electric lamps supported adjustably u onremovable plugs inserted through the ase of the instrument and carrying contacts for the lamps and means to light the lamps.

GEORGE F. BOUCHER. vGEORGE H. PRICE. FREDERICK FOSTER. 

